Caspar M. Berry ran a saloon on the northwest cornet of 5th and Chestnut St. between 1857 and 1860 in Philadelphia. He stamped these pieces in 1857 and then distributed them to be circulated and to promote his buisness. I picked this piece up at a small show this past weekend.
Question, I know Reales were used in what consisted of the United States, but I thought by 1857 they were no longer being accepted east of the Rocky Mountains?
The coinage act of 1857 demonetized foreign silver and created the small cent. So these could have very well have been used up until 1857. These 2 Reales coins were a pretty important part of the US monetary system until they were demonetized in 1857. Was this piece made before the act was passed??? Was it made after to show distaste for the act?? No idea.
It wasn't uncommon to spell "Chestnut" without the "T". I've seen it on a number of counterstamped coins, as well as on some struck tokens. U.S. Counterstamps on Spanish 2-reales aren't common, although Berry's issues are known on nearly two dozen of them. If you're looking to sell LostDutchman, send me a private message. I'm always looking for nice c/s.
I like it. Reallly nice. I like it. Most of mine just say things like "Good for 5 Cents at the bar". Like THAT is going to get you ice in a clean glass these daze......
Of course they still do, its just not very common. I've seen plenty of bills with advertisements stamped on them (mostly vote for so-and-so). And then there's the occasional stamped penny. I have a 1961 with the free mason emblem on it.
I remembered your thread Matt and thought I'd post this one I just picked up in Baltimore on Friday. I got it from Steve Hayden for a decent price, although it's not as nice as yours. I'm not sure of the host coin, except it's an 1801 Spanish silver coin. Can anyone identify it for me? I bid on a Berry counterstamp on eBay a few weeks ago and fortunately lost it as the final price was bid up to a ridiculous, IMO, of $835.00. I got this one for $244.00 so I saved myself a lot of money. This is a $250 to $450 counterstamp as far as I'm concerned. Bruce
Just because they were no longer legal tender doesn't mean they no longer circulated. Every so often for years afterward the government would still publish rates at which spanish silver would be accepted at the post office. True but counterstamp advertising has as its whole purpose to tell people were you can be found. It would be like your murderer or rapist publishing a signed confession letter in the paper with his actual address.
